Report: UFC Veteran Franca Sentenced to 42 Months in Prison

Former
UFC lightweight title contender Hermes
Franca was sentenced to 42 months in prison on Friday after
being convicted of sexually abusing an underage girl at a
Clackamas, Ore., martial arts school where he once taught,
according to a report in The Oregonian.

The report stated that Franca, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of
unlawful penetration and one count of first-degree sexual abuse in
Clackamas County Court on Wednesday. Franca was arraigned in May on
seven counts of first-degree sexual abuse and two counts of
second-degree unlawful sexual penetration. The remaining counts
were dismissed.

Franca was also sentenced to four-and-a-half years post-prison
supervision and must register as a sex offender. The Oregonian
reported that Franca turned himself into authorities in May after a
warrant was issued for his arrest. The encounter with the female
student occurred in December 2010.

Franca, a native of Fortaleza, Brazil, fought nine times for the
UFC from 2007 to 2009, suffering a technical knockout loss to
Tyson
Griffin in his last appearance at UFC
103. Franca fought Sean Sherk for
the lightweight title in 2007, dropping a unanimous decision. After
the bout, Franca tested positive for steroids and was suspended by
the California State Athletic Commission until July 5 of 2008.

Since his release from the UFC in 2009, Franca had fought eight
times for various regional promotions. He won three of four bouts
in 2011, suffering a knockout loss to Thawa Ril in
his last fight on April 29.